I was in a rush as always, but this time it was for an important date I just couldn’ t be late for! I found myself at a checkout counter behind an elderly woman seemingly in no hurry as she paid for her groceries. A PhD student with not a lot of money, I had hurried into the store to pick up some flowers. I was in a huge rush, thinking of my uping evening. I did not want to be late for this date.
We were in Boston, a place not always known for small conversation between strangers. The woman stopped unloading her basket and looked up at me. She smiled. It was a nice smile —warm and reassuring — and I returned her gift by smiling back.
“Must be a special lady, whoever it is that will be getting those beautiful flowers，” she said.
“Yes, she’ s special，” I said, and then to my embarrassment, the words kept ing out. “It’ s only our second date，but somehow I am just having the feeling she’s ‘the one’ ，”Jokingly, I added, “The only problem is that I can’ t figure out why she’ d want to date a guy like me.”
“Well, I think she’s very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her,” the woman said. “My husband used to bring me flowers every week — even when times were tough and we didn’ t have much money. Those were incredible days; he was very romantic and — of course — I miss him since he’ s passed away.”
I paid for my flowers as she was gathering up her groceries. There was no doubt in my mind as I walked up to her. I touched her on the shoulder and said, “You were right, you know. These flowers are indeed for a very special lady.” I handed her the flowers and thanked her for such a nice conversation.
It took her a moment to realize that I was giving her the flowers I had just purchased.“You have a wonderful evening,” I said. I left her with a big smile and my heart warmed as I saw her smelling the beautiful flowers.
I remember being slightly late for my date that night and telling my girlfriend the above story. A couple of years later，when I finally worked up the courage to ask her to marry me，she told me that this story had helped to seal it for her — that was the night that I won her heart.
【小题1】Why was the writer in a hurry that day?A．He was to meet his girlfriend.B．He had to go back to school soon.C．He was delayed by an elderly lady.D．He had to pick up some groceries.【小题2】What does the underlined phrase “her gift” (Paragraph 2) refer to?A．Her words.B．Her smile.C．Her flowers.D．Her politeness.【小题3】Why did the writer give his flowers to the elderly lady?A．She told him a nice story.B．She allowed him to pay first.C．She gave him encouragement.D．She liked flowers very much.【小题4】What does the underlined word “ seal” mean in the last paragraph?A．envelopB．blockC．an animalD．decide【小题5】What is the message conveyed in the story?A．Flowers are important for a date.B．Small talk is helpful.C．Love and kindness are rewarding. D．Elderly people deserve respecting.A
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(答案→)A
解析：作者匆忙冲进一家商店购买鲜花，排在作者前面的是一个不紧不慢的老人，老人认为，得到鲜花的女孩子都是幸福的。作者结完帐后把鲜花献给了老人，这件事感动了作者的女朋友，他们最后在一起了。
【小题1】根据第一段“but this time it was for an important date”和第五段““Well, I think she’s very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her，”可知，作者赶着去赴女朋友的约，故选A。
【小题2】根据第二段“It was a nice smile...by smiling back”可知，那个老妇人朝作者微笑，作者回以微笑，划线词指的是老妇人的微笑，故选B。
【小题3】根据第五段““Well, I think she’s very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her,” the woman said.”可知，那个老妇人所说的话是在鼓励作者，听了老妇人的故事之后，作者很感动，故选C。
【小题4】this story had helped to seal it for her发生在作者身上的这个故事让那个女孩子决定和作者在一起，help to do sth帮助做某事，A、B、C都是名词，只有D项“决定”是动词，故选D。
【小题5】根据最后一段“A couple of years later，when I finally worked up the courage to ask her to marry me，she told me that this story had helped to seal it for her — that was the night that I won her heart.”可知，几年以后，作者鼓起勇气向女朋友求婚，正是作者送给老人鲜花的那件事促成了两个人的在一起。由此可见，爱和善良是会得到回报的，故选C。